Day 3 29July Stockholm

Today we visited Gamla Stan (Old Town). It is one of Europe’s largest and best-preserved medieval city centres. We suspect that every city ln Europe says the same thing. Lots of cobblestones! Stortorget Square was the scene of the Stockholm Bloodbath of 1520 when about 90 people were executed in the square by Danish forces. On the square there is the Nobel Museum which had mixed reviews, so we didn't bother visiting it.

We visited the Royal Palace which is the largest one in Europe and was quite good and not overly crowded. 

The Silver Throne.

Bernadotte, one of Napoleon's Marshals who was invited to be the Swedish King.

 

We also visited the Royal Armoury which was far more than the name suggests. An armoured horse, perhaps we can get something in Jessie's size? (For those who don't know, it is my niece's family's Shetland pony.)

Desiree's dress with train, wife to Benadotte.

The Riddarholmen Church is the resting place for Swedish monarchs 1632-1950, except for Queen Christina. The burials include Gustavus Addolphus and Bernadotte. It was constructed in the Northern European Gothic style but parts are baroque. 

                                                                                        

The City Hall which despite its appearance is only 101 years old. It hosts the annual Nobel Prize winners in five categories, except the Peace prize is held in Oslo. The Gold Hall is decorated with real gold in the Byzantine mosaic style and is really quite impressive.

After the ceremony, the winners meet the Swedish Royal family here.

The Gold Hall is decorated with real gold in the Byzantine mosaic style and is really quite impressive. The mosaics are made of gold leaf and it took 8 kilograms of gold to make. In today,s value it was probably just under $1 million of our money. 

The City Hall's Blue Room holds the banquet for the Nobel Prize winners and guests. It will seat 1300 guests and streams of waiters come down the stairs to deliver the meals in 8 minutes.